-나요(은가요)

V + 나요 Adj/이다,아니다 + ㄴ/은가요 This is used to ask a question in a soft, polite tone, especially when speaking to someone of equal or lower status, while still showing courtesy.

여러분, 방학 동안 잘 지냈나요?

Everyone, how have you been during the break?

수지 씨 요즘도 계속 바쁜가요?

Suzy, are you still busy these days?

혹시 수업이 너무 빠른가요?

Is the class too fast by any chance?

• It is also used when talking to oneself to ask questions.

나는 누구인가? Who am I?

이게 더 큰가? Is this bigger?

Self question endings:

~지	~나,~ㄴ/은가
Conversational. 나는 누구지? 뭐지? 몇 시지? 어디지? 언제지? 어떤 거지? 어떻지? 얼마지?	Book(written) style. 나는 누구인가? 무엇인가? 몇 시인가? 어디인가? 언제인가? 어떤 것인가? 어떤가? 얼마인가?
If it’s a yes-or-no question, we don’t usually use it for self-questioning. (In those cases, it sounds more like you are asking someone else for confirmation.) 이게 더 크지? This is bigger, right?	A yes-or-no question directed at yourself. In those case, it sounds colloquial. (perhaps, because it replaces the -지 pattern for this usage.) 이게 더 큰가? Is this bigger?

• Verb, 있다/없다, -었-/-겠-

Root + 나(요)

ex. 가나요, 먹나요, 만들다 → 만드나요, 있나요(재미있나요, 맛있나요), 갔나요, 가겠나요, 컸나요, 좋겠나요

• Adjective, 이다/아니다

받침 X, ㄹ받침	ㄴ가(요)	ex. 큰가요, 싼가요, 멀다→ 먼가요, N+ 인가요/아닌가요
받침 O	은가(요)	ex. 작은가요, 좋은가요, 더운가요

1. Colloquially, ’-나요’ can sometimes be used after adjectives as well, but not with 이다/아니다.

크나요O, 작나요O, 이나요X, 아니나요X